Negligence in Fatal Helicopter Crash Settles for $5,000,000

A 2015 Toyota Tundra, owned by a corporate entity and operated by its driver, collided with the rear of an automobile driven by the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleged that the collision caused serious personal injuries to the neck, back, head, shoulders, legs, and arms, among other areas, and incurred medical expenses and economic loss. The plaintiff contended the incident resulted from the defendants' negligence in vehicle ownership and operation. The plaintiff filed a vehicular liability action against the corporate owner and its driver in the Alabama Circuit Court, Tenth Judicial Circuit, County of Jefferson, Bessemer Division, alleging negligence and vicarious liability. The defendants denied the claims, asserting affirmative defenses including failure to state a claim, no entitlement to damages, and failure to mitigate damages. Experts, including a chiropractic medicine specialist and a law enforcement officer for the plaintiff, and a pain medicine expert for the defendants, were involved in the case. After a jury trial, the jury awarded the plaintiff $1,500,000. The Circuit Court subsequently entered judgment in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants.

A collision occurred in Etowah County, Alabama, when the defendant driver's vehicle rear-ended the plaintiff's automobile. The plaintiff alleged the impact exacerbated prior back injuries, resulting in pain, suffering, medical expenses, and economic loss. He claimed the defendant driver was negligent and wanton, failing to maintain a proper distance and texting while driving at the time of the incident. The plaintiff filed a vehicular liability and breach of contract action in the Circuit Court of Alabama, Sixteenth Judicial District, County of Etowah, naming the defendant driver and his own automobile insurer to claim uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits. The defendant driver denied the allegations. The defendant insurer also denied the claims, asserting affirmative defenses such as contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and failure to mitigate damages. The case proceeded to a jury trial, which concluded with a verdict rendered in favor of the defendant driver. The court subsequently entered a judgment in accordance with the jury's findings.

A rear-end collision occurred on Rigby Street in Montgomery on May 27, 2021. The plaintiff, driving a 2006 Ford Explorer with a passenger, stopped at a stop sign, moved forward, and then stopped abruptly. A following 2015 Chevrolet Malibu 1LS, driven by the defendant, subsequently struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The record did not specify the nature of the claimed injuries or medical expenses for the plaintiff or the passenger. The plaintiff and the passenger initially filed suit against the defendant, alleging negligence. The passenger later dismissed her claims. The defendant denied responsibility, asserting that the plaintiff had stopped abruptly after proceeding from a stop sign, which constituted a sudden emergency. The case was tried in Montgomery, where the jury returned a defense verdict for the defendant.